There’s been a big update in the Madeleine McCann case. German police found some disturbing evidence that might finally explain what happened to her.
Madeleine went missing back in 2007 during a family holiday in Portugal. She was just three. Now, 18 years later, we might finally have answers — including a shocking confession from the man police believe is responsible.
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A new documentary claims the prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, confessed to a fellow criminal that he kidnapped Madeleine. This, along with disturbing new evidence found at his hideout, could be the final pieces investigators need.
Her disappearance had people searching all over Europe. No one could ever say for sure what happened, and it’s still one of the most talked-about cases in the UK.
Investigators have always believed Brueckner was involved
Brueckner’s been on the police radar for years. He’s already in prison for a separate rape case from 2005 in the same area where Maddie disappeared.
Even though he hasn’t been officially charged in her case, the cops still think he did it. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said back in 2020, “We have strong evidence that Madeleine McCann is dead and that our suspect killed her.”
“We don’t have the body and no parts of the body, but we have enough evidence to say our suspect killed Madeleine McCann.”
A raid on his hideout uncovered disturbing items
Police went through his hideout in Germany and found some chilling stuff. There were masks, illegal guns, and loads of children’s things — including toys and bikes.
And weirdly, there were 75 kids’ swimsuits. He doesn’t even have children.
Police believe the hard drive could be the key
They also found a hard drive. It might be what finally links him to Maddie. The photos on it show him at a spot that’s been of interest to investigators for years.
Cops haven’t shared everything on it yet, but they think it proves Maddie’s no longer alive. Some of what’s on it is expected to be shown for the first time in a new documentary.
The hard drive also contained disturbing written fantasies
Even worse, the hard drive had stories he wrote himself — really twisted stuff. In them, he talks about kidnapping kids.
One story describes him drugging a mom and her daughter outside a preschool. Another talks about abusing a young girl who’s blonde and only four years old.
Earlier raids had already revealed horrific material
This isn’t the first time they found awful things. Back in 2016, police found USB sticks and memory cards at one of his old properties.
They were full of child abuse images and chats with other pedophiles. A lot of it showed his obsession with kidnapping children.
None of that evidence tied him directly to Maddie, but it’s part of why police keep coming back to him.
Photos place him near key locations from the case
There are also photos showing him near the Arade Dam. That’s about 35 miles from where Maddie disappeared.
He also crashed his vehicle at a festival around the same time. Police found the insurance claim, which proves he was there in April 2008.
A new documentary may reveal even more
A Channel 4 documentary called Madeleine McCann: Unseen Evidence is digging into all of this. It’s brought out some new claims.
One of them? That Brueckner might’ve told another criminal what he did.
Brueckner allegedly confessed to another criminal
Madeleine McCann: Unseen Evidence has alleged that one of the key suspects in the toddler’s potential kidnapping may have actually confessed to a fellow criminal about the crime.
Prosecutors hope this evidence will finally solve the case
The hope now is that all of this new evidence might finally close the case. He was cleared in another case last year and could be released by September 2025. Unless prosecutors can prove he’s the one who killed Maddie.